Ukrainian President gets ballistic helmets, vests from local Turkish company

A Turkey-based firm turns out to be producing the ballistic protective equipment used by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’ and his team since Russia launched its military operation.

After Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank visited the Garanti Kompozit factory in Yozgat’s organized industrial zone, the fact emerged.

While doing the meeting with factory officials, Varank stated that the company had manufactured and sent helmets and vests for Zelenskyy and his team after obtaining a special guest on the first day of Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine.

According to Garanti Kompozit Manager Vedat Tuzer that they first demanded 20 helmets and vests for Mr Zelenskyy and his team, so we just sent them, and we were happy after seeing them on TV.

Furthermore, the company stated that they always prefer to use high-tech materials in order to produce various protective ballistic composite products, performance-enhancing clothing and equipment for military, professional and civilian use.

Varank emphasized that protective equipment has mainly come to the forefront due to the Russia-Ukraine war.

“In addition to the production, Varank added that the vital defence equipment that protects our security forces, the export of these products is significant for our country to show the point it has achieved in production.”

I am very happy to have seen this point where the private sector has come in, especially in the defence industry. Many of the military equipment is manufactured in Yozgat and shipped to more than 50 countries in the world.

Exact on the same time, Tuzer stated that the company has been supplying nearly 80% of the ballistic helmets in Turkey since 2013.

Until 2013, these were usually supplied from the U.S. or Israel-partnered foreign companies, with Tüzer saying purchases were made at prices around $1,900.